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Of Midnight Born
IN SEARCH OF
Alex Woding had come seeking peace. And though the young astronomer was thrilled to discover a place where he could pursue his passion undisturbed, he had another motive for seeking out Maiden Castle. There, in his youth, Alex had glimpsed a beauty that had haunted him ever since. Staring now into the evening sky, the gentleman saw again the reason for his return.
A VISION
For five hundred years Serena had been a ghost--since the days of the Black Prince--and she had never known peace. But watching the keep's handsome new tenant, happiness was easy to imagine. Which made her all the more determined to drive him away. Alex made Serena burn to be flesh once more, to revel in a touch she'd once reviled. He made her dream that she could be saved, for there was no power greater than that of love, even one Of Midnight Born.
Alex Woding had come seeking peace. And though the young astronomer was thrilled to discover a place where he could pursue his passion undisturbed, he had another motive for seeking out Maiden Castle. There, in his youth, Alex had glimpsed a beauty that had haunted him ever since. Staring now into the evening sky, the gentleman saw again the reason for his return.
A VISION
For five hundred years Serena had been a ghost--since the days of the Black Prince--and she had never known peace. But watching the keep's handsome new tenant, happiness was easy to imagine. Which made her all the more determined to drive him away. Alex made Serena burn to be flesh once more, to revel in a touch she'd once reviled. He made her dream that she could be saved, for there was no power greater than that of love, even one Of Midnight Born.
358 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
5 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Cach
48 books203 followersLisa Cach grew up in a farm near Portland, Oregon, a place she loves although she'd always trying to leave it. Wanderlust has led her to sail the Sargasso Sea, teach English in Japan, and trek the leech-infested jungles of Borneo. She has degrees in both English and psychology, two subjects that were fun to learn about but that guaranteed her low-paying jobs. Her father, she admits, may have been right about the MBA.
Lisa started to writing romances in her parents' basement during snatched moments from work. Since her writing career began her free time has become less and less as her novels become more and more popular. She's loved romance novels since Junior High School, and at least now she doesn't have to worry about getting caught reading one. Lisa married, and bought with her husband a home in Seattle, Washington. She describes her personal paradise as "...a pile of books, a plate of brownies, and the free time in which to enjoy them".
Lisa started to writing romances in her parents' basement during snatched moments from work. Since her writing career began her free time has become less and less as her novels become more and more popular. She's loved romance novels since Junior High School, and at least now she doesn't have to worry about getting caught reading one. Lisa married, and bought with her husband a home in Seattle, Washington. She describes her personal paradise as "...a pile of books, a plate of brownies, and the free time in which to enjoy them".
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 24, 2014
One of the most enjoyable books I've ever read!
April 1, 2025
Attempting to escape the pressures of society and the oppressive rule of his sisters, the hero secludes himself high in the mountains in a keep where, as a child, he saw a ghost. Not that he believes in such things now. The servants speak of a ghost that frightens away the men who try to remain on the property but he's never experienced any paranormal happenings. And then, out the corner of his eye, be begins to see a shape. A hazy glow of what could be a human form. He denies himself the acknowledgement of what he's seeing but at the same time he is intrigued. But the ghost it a childish thing that frightens men and pulls pranks around the castle. He decides to confront the spirit, to show he's not afraid and he's not impressed.
The heroine knew from the second she laid eyes on the new master of her house that this man was dangerous. Not only does he study the stars but he's not frightened. He looks directly at her, seeing her as clearly as anyone without her intentionally showing herself. The thought is unnerving and old insecurities about her scar and tall stature resurface. She knows she won't be able to get rid of this man in the usual way so she decides to annoying him, to be present at his side for every waking hour, hoping to drive him insane. It doesn't work. Strange, but he treats her like a person, not a spirit. He shames her for how she treats his servants and for the first time in 500 years she cares what someone thinks of her.
Never did she imagine she could never feel comfortable with a man after her marriage and death at the hands of her husband but when an evil presence makes itself known, she seeks him out for safety. They communicate, he shows her the stars and teaches her to read and write. Holding solid form is possible but at the cost of a great deal of energy and with every passing day, she is slowly dying because of it. Yet, she is willing to risk the darkness for a chance to live, truly live as she never has before. The hero comes to care for his ghost a great deal. He eagerly anticipates the night when he can spend time with her in his study. It may be crazy and indeed his family has begun to worry for his sanity, but he lusts after his ghost. She is so real and warm, how can it be possible? Worse, he's falling in love. But she is fated to disappear with the death of the tree she is tied to. He watches her make amends to everyone she wronged, search herself for peace and forgiveness and let go of all the bitterness that has kept her prisoner for 500 years. But how, knowing he loves her and she in return, watch her die?
The characters in this book were interesting. First off, the hero was confusing in his indecision about whether the ghost was real or not. He denied to adamantly to his family and anyone who spoke of a ghostly encounter yet he communicated with the glowing form of a woman who shadowed him wherever he went. He was at times childish himself but mostly he was a steady calm in the face of the paranormal. He didn't let a lot rattle him and I liked the way he communicated with the heroine, with respect and rationality. He could be playful and teasing but he could be harsh and demanding. The heroine was the star of the show. She too was childish and ignorant of her own wrongdoings, cursing the man who murdered her while not acknowledging how she herself tricked him into marriage. She was just lonely and insecure. When the hero came into the picture, she immediately stopped her pranks and took umbrage in his friendship. Their relationship was odd, of it was, she was a ghost. It was odd how she could be described as warm as she technically had no body and the scene when the sister walked into the hero kissing a ball of light was actually quite comical. I wasn't wowed by this story and funny enough I didn't get a whole lot of chemistry from this pairing. It felt more like a friendship than a love affair to me. Regardless, it had a good message and the characters were well drawn out- faults and all.
The heroine knew from the second she laid eyes on the new master of her house that this man was dangerous. Not only does he study the stars but he's not frightened. He looks directly at her, seeing her as clearly as anyone without her intentionally showing herself. The thought is unnerving and old insecurities about her scar and tall stature resurface. She knows she won't be able to get rid of this man in the usual way so she decides to annoying him, to be present at his side for every waking hour, hoping to drive him insane. It doesn't work. Strange, but he treats her like a person, not a spirit. He shames her for how she treats his servants and for the first time in 500 years she cares what someone thinks of her.
Never did she imagine she could never feel comfortable with a man after her marriage and death at the hands of her husband but when an evil presence makes itself known, she seeks him out for safety. They communicate, he shows her the stars and teaches her to read and write. Holding solid form is possible but at the cost of a great deal of energy and with every passing day, she is slowly dying because of it. Yet, she is willing to risk the darkness for a chance to live, truly live as she never has before. The hero comes to care for his ghost a great deal. He eagerly anticipates the night when he can spend time with her in his study. It may be crazy and indeed his family has begun to worry for his sanity, but he lusts after his ghost. She is so real and warm, how can it be possible? Worse, he's falling in love. But she is fated to disappear with the death of the tree she is tied to. He watches her make amends to everyone she wronged, search herself for peace and forgiveness and let go of all the bitterness that has kept her prisoner for 500 years. But how, knowing he loves her and she in return, watch her die?
The characters in this book were interesting. First off, the hero was confusing in his indecision about whether the ghost was real or not. He denied to adamantly to his family and anyone who spoke of a ghostly encounter yet he communicated with the glowing form of a woman who shadowed him wherever he went. He was at times childish himself but mostly he was a steady calm in the face of the paranormal. He didn't let a lot rattle him and I liked the way he communicated with the heroine, with respect and rationality. He could be playful and teasing but he could be harsh and demanding. The heroine was the star of the show. She too was childish and ignorant of her own wrongdoings, cursing the man who murdered her while not acknowledging how she herself tricked him into marriage. She was just lonely and insecure. When the hero came into the picture, she immediately stopped her pranks and took umbrage in his friendship. Their relationship was odd, of it was, she was a ghost. It was odd how she could be described as warm as she technically had no body and the scene when the sister walked into the hero kissing a ball of light was actually quite comical. I wasn't wowed by this story and funny enough I didn't get a whole lot of chemistry from this pairing. It felt more like a friendship than a love affair to me. Regardless, it had a good message and the characters were well drawn out- faults and all.
February 20, 2022
I chose this book, thinking it would be a pleasant diversion from some of the heavier subject books I'd read recently. And I guess it fulfilled that. But, ugh. I hadn't realized it involved a ghost. But when I started, and realized this fact, thought, ok, it won't be too bad. Apologies to those who liked it, but, yes, it was kind of bad. The basic storyline might have had promise. But the details ruined it. For instance, a GHOST can breathe? And let that breath out in a "whoosh??" How does that work? And speaking of how things work, the ghost can do a strip tease? And lose her virginity? Again, HOW does this all work? Perhaps, if the author had left out the breathing part, and the stripping and sex, this could have been a much better book. Play up the unrequited love angle perhaps. Romance books don't need sex to be successful, and certainly don't need sex that left me questioning the "how?" part. Glad it was a fast and easy read.
February 24, 2010
Alex Woding had come seeking peace. And though the young astronomer was thrilled to discover a place where he could pursue his passion undisturbed, he had another motive for seeking out Maiden Castle. There, in his youth, Alex had glimpsed a beauty that had haunted him ever since. Staring now into the evening sky, the gentleman saw again the reason for his return. For five hundred years Serena Clerenbold had been a ghost -- since the days of the Black Prince -- and she had never known peace. But watching the castle's handsome new tenant, happiness was easy to imagine. Which made her all the more determined to drive him away. Alex made Serena burn to be flesh once more, to revel in a touch she'd once reviled. He made her dream that she could be saved, for there was no power greater than that of love, even one... Of Midnight Born.
By IRENE MARSHALL
...Alex is gradually becoming able to see Serena from the corner of his eye and as time passes, she becomes more and more visible to him. They fall in love and though Alex refuses to acknowledge his love for her, Serena becomes "real" a few times and they begin an affair. But, each time she uses her "powers", Serena weakens her life force. Who much time does she have left? What is the link between Serena and the cherry tree? Why, after all this time, is the tree dying? Will Alex be able to hold her here or will Serena finally be gone? What is the black shadow that is stalking Serena? This is one of the very best books that I've ever read. The characters are so well written that I can almost "see" them before my eyes, and the castle is so real that I found myself walking the halls and climbing the stairs. Laughter, tears, anger, hatred love and just some of the hottest sex scenes ever written. What more could you ask for?
I really enjoyed this book and went out to find more by this author after finishing it. Recommended read!
By IRENE MARSHALL
...Alex is gradually becoming able to see Serena from the corner of his eye and as time passes, she becomes more and more visible to him. They fall in love and though Alex refuses to acknowledge his love for her, Serena becomes "real" a few times and they begin an affair. But, each time she uses her "powers", Serena weakens her life force. Who much time does she have left? What is the link between Serena and the cherry tree? Why, after all this time, is the tree dying? Will Alex be able to hold her here or will Serena finally be gone? What is the black shadow that is stalking Serena? This is one of the very best books that I've ever read. The characters are so well written that I can almost "see" them before my eyes, and the castle is so real that I found myself walking the halls and climbing the stairs. Laughter, tears, anger, hatred love and just some of the hottest sex scenes ever written. What more could you ask for?
I really enjoyed this book and went out to find more by this author after finishing it. Recommended read!
November 18, 2010
This book had a really good premise, but too many unexplained things that just happened. Like how the ghost could make herself corporeal when she wanted and other small details like that. And, the sex scenes weren't even that great, the first one I thought was odd. And the whole being birthed from a cherry tree ending, while kind of ingenius, a tad too strange for me.
August 23, 2016
Love the idea of this. And for the most part I really liked it. Seemed to get a little slow in the middle which had me losing interest (especially the astronomy stuff). Definitely an unusual love story if your looking for something like that. The ending was cute
June 24, 2008
This was just "okay". I don't care for heroines who fawn over the hero of the novel with so little respect for themselves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2011
Fantastic! Found a new author who I one day aspire to emulate :)
Great story, it kept me glued to the pages.
Great story, it kept me glued to the pages.
May 20, 2013
Ghost Serena tries to mk ownr Alex lv hr castle by scarg all male wrkrs but hes not afrd, sees hr. She begns 2 growup (only 20 @ death) lrns to trust/lv hm, lrn hrslf, make amends w/all
March 19, 2012
A surprisingly good read.
November 15, 2012
Surprisingly engaging! Probably because it came across as a fairy tale. Much more Grimm than Disney. And I really dug that!
January 30, 2016
Unusual love story between a ghost and a man in the 19th cent. Well written and emotional
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews